Cover for protecting coatings of automobiles and the like

ABSTRACT

A cover for protecting coatings of automobiles and the like is a composite sheet having a substantial length and width. The composite sheet comprises a flexible sheet, a plurality of magnets arranged in spaced relation to each other on one surface of the flexible sheet, and a cushion material filling the spaces between the magnets. The magnets and the cushion material are secured to the flexible sheet. The magnets are flexible and made of a flexible plastic material having finely divided magnetized magnetic material dispersed therein.

United States Patent Sasaki et al.

[54] COVER FOR PROTECTING COATINGS OF AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE [72]inventors: Kenldchi Sasaki; Sailcawa, both of Osaka, Japan [73]Assignee: Yamauchi Rubber Industry Co., Ltd.,

Osaka, Japan [22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 89,897

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 19, 1969 Japan ..44/l 10014521 U.s. c1 Janus 306, 296/136 51 Int.Cl. .110117/02 5s FieldofSearch..335/285, 320,303,306;

1451 May 23, 1972 [56] References Cited UNlTEDSTA'Il-IS PATENTS3,546,643 12/1970 Virostek "ass/s03,

FOREIGN PA'IEN'IS 0R APPLICATIONS 674,216 11/19 3 Canada ..296/l36Primary Examiner-George Harris Attorney-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & LungmusY 57 ABSTRACT netized magnetic material dispersed therein.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE-INVENTION The presentinvention relates to covers for protecting coatings of automobiles andthe like, and more particularly to covers for protecting coated surfacesof automobiles during assembly process.

The automobile assembly operation includes a step of dry- I ing acoating,-but since subsequent steps of incorporating interior fittingsand fixing exterior fittings are can'ied out before the coating has beendried completely, the coating is subject to marring during these stepsof operation. In order to protect the coating, accordingly, the coatedsurface has conventionally been coveredwith a sheet made of a syntheticresin such as vinyl, which is then secured in position with an adhesivetape. However, use of a synthetic resin sheet with applica tion of suchmeans for securing is not only troublesome but requires much labor sincethe adhesive which remains after the sheet is taken off has to beremoved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cover in accordance with this invention hassuch flexibility in its entirety that it is well suitedfor applicationto a coated surface in curved form like a bonnet of automobile. Insofaras the surface provided with a coating is formed of a magnetic body,flexible magnets enable the cover to be readily attracted and fitted inposition while insuring easy removal of the cover. The cover has furtheradvantages that when removed, the cover leaves no traces on the coatingand that it can be used repeatedly. Further a cushion material serves toprotect the coating from impact in the event a jig or the like shoulddrop thereon. Since it is impossible for the present skill in the art tocompletely prevent transfer of the plasticizer and barium ferritecontained in the flexible magnet, there is a possibility of thesematerials bleeding to its surface to stain a surface to be protected.With the present invention,-however, such trouble is perfectly precludedbecause the under face of the magnet is-covered with the flexible sheetwhich prevents staining due to bleeding. With reference to the drawings,the present invention will be described below in greater detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing anembodiment of the cover in accordance with the present invention withpart broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-ll of FIG.-

FIG. 3 is a plan view, with part broken away, showing another embodimentof the cover in accordance with this in- FIG. 6 is a view inlongitudinal section showing another em-.

bodiment of the cover in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, acover comprises a first rectangular flexible sheet 1 having asubstantial length and width, a plurality of elongated barlike flexiblemagnets 2 extending across the sheet 1 and bonded to its inner surfacewith an adhesive in spaced relation to each other, a cushion material 3disposed between the magnets 2 and bonded to the inner surface of thesheet I with an adhesive, and a second flexible sheet 4 spaced apartfrom the first sheet 1 and having the same area as the first sheet 1,the second sheet 4 being secured to the magnets 2 and the cushionmaterial 3 with an adhesive.

Since the cover is provided with a plurality of spaced apart magnets 2,the. cover can be cut off for use at the position of the cushionmaterial 3-between adjacent magnets, depending upon the area ofthecoatedsurface to be protected. In the case where the cover isprepared in confomrity with the area of the coated surface, a coverprovided with the magnets 2 at least at the opposite ends of the sheet 1may serve the purpose.

Suitable as the flexible sheet are a sheet made of a synthetic resinsuch. as vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymer ofethylene and vinyl acetate, chlorinated polyethylene, nylon or polyesterand a fabric made of cotton or synthetic fibers such as nylon fibers,polyester or polyvinyl alcohol fibers. It is desired that the firstsheet be 0.05 to 0.15 mm in thickness andthat the second sheet be of athickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm.

Preferably, the flexible magnet may comprise a synthetic rubber or asynthetic resin and barium ferrite of-l to 7p. mixed and kneadedtherewith in the weight ratio of l :5 10.

Examples of the synthetic rubber are styrene rubber, nitrile rubber,butyl rubber, Neoprene, isoprene, ethylene-propylene rubber andchlorosulfonated polyethylene. Examples of the synthetic resin are vinylchloride, polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene and copolymer ofethylene and vinyl acetate.

The flexible magnet may preferably by 0.5 to 2 mm, most' width, the mostpreferable width being about mm. It is desired to space apart theflexible magnets from each other by a distance of 50 to 500 mm, mostpreferably, by about 150 mm.

Employable as the cushion material for filling the spaced between theflexible magnets are a woven or nonwoven fabric made of synthetic fiberssuch as nylon, polyester or polyvinyl alcohol fibers; a rubber spongesuch as SBR, NBR or NR; a synthetic resin sponge such as vinyl chloride,polyethylene or copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate; and felt.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the cover in accordance with thisinvention. This cover is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1and 2 in that a plurality of magnets 12 are rectangular and that themagnets 12 are disposed onlyalong the periphery of the sheet 1 inspaced-apart relation to each other. The sheet I is of course provided,on its inner surface, with a cushion material 13 at areas other thanwhere the magnets 12 are present.

FIG. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the cover of this invention.

This cover comprises a first'rectangular flexible sheet I having asubstantial length and width, a plurality of rectangular flexiblemagnets 22 arranged on the inner surface of the sheet I inlongitudinally and transversely spaced-apart relation, a cushionmaterial 23 disposed along the periphery of the sheet 1 and between themagnets 22, and a second flexible sheet 4 spaced apart from the firstsheet 1 and provided over the magnets 22 and the cushion material 23,the second sheet 4 having the same area as the first sheet I, the firstflexible sheet I and the second flexible sheet 4 being fixedly stitchedtogether between adjacent magnets 22.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the cover in accordance withthis invention. This cover is different from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 4. and 5 in that a cushion material 33 extends away from the innersurface of the sheet 1 beyond magnets 32 and covers the'rnagnets 32 andthat the respective elements are bonded together with an adhesive. Asecond flexible sheet may of course be placed over and fixedly joined tothe exposed surface of the cushion material 33.

Except by adhesion and stitching, the respective elements may be fixedlyjoined together by fushion depending upon the properties of thematerials.

We claim:

1. A cover for protecting coatings of automobilesand the like comprisinga pair of flexible sheets having inner and outer surfaces arranged withtheir inner surfaces facing each other, a plurality of spaced-apartflexible magnets interposed between the sheets and secured to the innersurfaces thereof, and cushion material interposed between the magnetsand secured to the inner surfaces of the sheets.

2. The cover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is fabric.

3. The cover of claim I in which the cushion material is sponge.

4. The cover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is felt. 5 5. Thecover of claim 1 in which the sheets are stitched together betweenadjacent magnets.

2. The cover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is fabric.
 3. Thecover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is sponge.
 4. The coverof claim 1 in which the cushion material is felt.
 5. The cover of claim1 in which the sheets are stitched together between adjacent magnets.